Coastguard team rescues walker and canoeists

A COASTGUARD team took on a double rescue mission yesterday as they airlifted an injured walker before going to the aid of two canoeists.

The walker had to be rescued after falling between 20-30ft as she walked along a coastal path between Ullapool and Achiltibuie in Wester Ross.

A helicopter from Stornoway Coastguard was sent to the scene at about 12pm, where the crew found the woman, who had injured her back.

Shortly after, an emergency call was made to the coastguard reporting two canoeists having difficulties at Loch Broom, seven miles away.

An alert from a personal locator beacon prompted Stornoway Coastguard to issue a mayday call to ask for help from any vessels close by.

The helicopter crew had noticed crew from two boats watching them rescue the walker and contacted them by radio, asking them to follow the aircraft to the canoeists.

Both canoeists were found and pulled from water by the Seascape vessel, before being taken ashore to the village of Dornie, where the helicopter landed.

The canoeists, who are both male, were checked over by a paramedic. One was found to be suffering from hypothermia. He was airlifted along with the injured walker to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.